Education Policy Brief #210 | Nicholas Gordon | October 23, 2025
Summary
Diplomatic “soft power” is related to a country’s ability to influence other nations through its core values and culture. American democratic values including a free press, the legal justice system, and foreign engagement programs are potent sources of American soft power. When public trust in these American democratic norms and institutions wanes, America stands to lose its invaluable soft power. Among President Trump’s many actions that diminish U.S. soft power—from his persistent, pernicious attacks on the American media, legal system, electoral process, universities, and allies, to his constant maligning of past U.S. presidents and his racist mocking of current U.S. politicians—it’s Trump’s attempt to terminate the nation’s long-running international exchange and aid programs that could have the most deleterious effects, making America weaker at home and abroad.
Analysis
In August, The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced plans to cut funding for at least 22 Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) programs, deeming them “lower funding priorities.” No matter that congressionally approved funding for these programs was already established for fiscal year 2025 (FY25). While the executive branch is responsible for protecting and executing the constitutional laws and ensuring funds are properly appropriated, the Trump administration instead shows brazen disregard for congress’s ‘power of the purse,’ that is, its constitutional authority to designate funding for these federal programs.
The American Economy Will Suffer
Venerable U.S. exchange programs bolster America’s economy and security, help develop crucial networks and partnerships, and create leaders and change-makers. The nonprofit advocacy group the Alliance for International Exchange estimates that more than 8,000 Americans stand to lose their jobs with the OMB funding cuts to U.S.-based ECA-partner organizations, while the American economy will squander billions of dollars. Representatives from both parties recognize the crucial role exchange programs play not just in the American economy but also in driving American influence and contributing to U.S. foreign policy objectives. Senators Cory Booker and Susan Collins, among others, have urged the administration to respect Congress’s approved funding. The leaders emphasize that exchange programs are one of the best returns on investment in federal funding, with 90% of exchange funding spent on American educators, institutions, and communities.
Damaging Global Partnerships
The robust bipartisan support for U.S exchange programs that has existed for decades has enabled crucial global partnerships to develop. OMB’s funding cuts on exchange programs will undermine years of U.S. diplomatic efforts. Just as Trump’s dismantling of the 64-year-old U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was criticized by geopolitical analysts as a reckless abandonment of international relationships and support networks that took decades to build, the termination of exchange programs will further damage America’s credibility with global partners. Trashing the trust earned with allies is a blunder more costly than cutting foreign aid. Meanwhile, rivals like China and Russia could gain a competitive advantage by filling the void left by Washington’s retreat from partnerships with developing nations.
The Human Factor
U.S. Exchange programs provide a wealth of opportunities for education, relationship-building, and personal and professional growth. English Language Programs, for example, sends U.S. educators abroad to help build English language teaching capacity and foster cross-cultural understanding, which galvanizes the participants’ careers as they return home with expanded skill sets and enriched perspectives. The Community Engagement Exchange develops emerging civil society leaders with skills, resources, and networks to implement projects on civics, peacebuilding, and sustainability. The Community College Administrator Program trains international education leaders in postsecondary school administration, workforce development, and private sector partnerships.
American citizens participating in exchange programs embody American values of hard work, leadership, support, innovation, and collaboration. Participants have a chance to share their diverse perspectives and experiences, while learning about those of people from other countries, too. Friendships are forged; professional relationships are established. Building these cultural bridges leads to new projects that improve people’s lives and strengthen communities. In other words, there’s more than just money at stake here, which is something that a corrupt deal-maker might never understand: Trump is shattering the livelihoods and callings of hardworking Americans dedicated to bettering the country and the world through exchange programs.
No Going Back
While some of America’s partners might view Trump as an ugly aberration of America’s democratic leadership and await the return of a more diplomatically astute presence in the White House, many others will not. They will recognize that the America they trusted and shared values with does not exist anymore, and they will move on. American soft power will flounder in their wake. The rebuilding of these substantive U.S. global partnerships and the restoring of U.S credibility will not come easy, if it comes at all.
Engagement Resources:
- The Center for American Progress
- An independent, nonpartisan policy institute “dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through bold, progressive ideas, strong leadership and concerted action”
- Alliance for International Exchange
- “Promotes the growth and impact of U.S. international exchange programs and the effectiveness of its members, organizations, and companies”
- American Civil Liberties Union
- Non-profit organization that defends individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and laws